Laugh that Difpofition of Mind, which is absolutely neceffary to make Men eafy when together. Were I indeed to indulge my own Sentiments, I should speak yet with greater Freedom on this Subject. Since there is fo vaft a Difproportion, when we come to compare those who have really either a Concern in the Government, or the Service of their Country more particularly at Heart, and the Men who pretend to either, merely from a Defire of appearing of fome Confequence themselves; we ought certainly to avoid making one of this Number, and aim rather at being quiet within ourselves, and agreeable to those among whom we live, let their political Notions be what they will; inasmuch as this is a direct Road to Happiness, which all Men profefs they would reach, if they could. Pomponius Atticus, whose Character appears fo amiable, from the concurring Teftimony of all who mention him, owed the greatest Part of that Esteem in which he lived, and of that Reputation by which he still furvives, unto his fteady Adherence to this Rule. His Benevolence made him love Mankind in general, and his good Senfe hindered him from being tainted with thofe Party Prejudices which had bewitched his Friends. He took not up Arms for Cæfar; nor did he abandon Italy, when Pompey withdrew with his Forces, and had, in outward Form, the Sanction of the Commonwealth. He faw too plainly the Ambition of both; yet he preferved his Complacence for his Friends in each Party, without fiding with either. Success never made them more welcome to Pomponius, nor nor could any Defeat leffen them in his Efteem. When victorious he vifited them, without fharing in their Power; and when vanquished he received them, without confidering any thing but their Diftrefs. In a few Words, he entertained no Hopes from the good Fortune of his Friends, nor fuffered the Reverfe of it to chill his Breast with Fear. His Equanimity produced a juft Effect, and his univerfal Kindness made him universally beloved. I fancy this Picture of a Difpofition, perfectly free from political Sournefs, will have an agreeable Effect on many of my Readers; and prevent their falling into a common Miftake, that the Circumftances of public Affairs, and the Characters of public Persons, are the propereft Topics for general Converfation: Whereas they never confider, that it is hard to find a Company, wherein fomebody or other hath not either Liking or Diftaste, or has received Injuries or Obligations from thofe who are likelieft to be mentioned upon fuch Occafions; and who, confequently, will be apt to put a serious Construction on a flight Expreffion, and remember afterwards in earneft, what the Speaker meant fo much a Jeft, as never to have thought of it more. Thefe, perhaps, may pafs with fome for trivial Remarks; but with those who regard their own Eafe, and have at all obferved what conduces to make Men difagreeable to one another, I flatter myself they will have more Weight. Behaviour is like Architecture; the Symmetry of the whole pleases us fo much, that we examine not into into its Parts; which, if we did, we fhould find much Nicety required in forming such a Structure; though, to Perfons of no Tafte, the Rules of either Art would feem to have little Connexion with their Effects. That true Politeness we can only call, Which looks like Jones's Fabric at Whitehall [a]; It fills our Minds with rational Delight, After thefe Admonitions as to Religion and Politics, it is very fit we observe another Topic of modern Discourse, of which it is hard to fay, whether it be more common, or more contrary to true Politeness. What I mean, is, the reflecting on Men's Profeffions, and playing on those general Aspersions, which have been fixed on them by a Sort of Ill-nature hereditary to the World. And with this, as the third Point, which I promised to confider, shall be shut up the more ferious Part of this Effay. In order to have a proper Idea of this Point, we muft, first of all, confider, that the chief Cause both of Love and Hatred, is Custom. When Men, from a long Habit, have acquired a Facility of thinking clearly, and speaking well in any Science, they naturally think that better than any other; and this [a] Banqueting-house. Liking, Liking, in a fhort Time, grows up to a warmer Affection; which renders them impatient whenever their darling Science is decried in their Hearing. A polite Man will have a care of ridiculing Physic before one of the Faculty, talking disrespectfully of Lawyers while Gentlemen of the Long-robe are by, or speaking contemptibly of the Clergy when with any of that Order. Some Critics may poffibly object, That these are Solecisms of too grofs a Nature for Men of tolerable Senfe or Education to be guilty of. But I appeal to those who are most converfant in the World, whether this Fault, glaring as it is, be not committed every Day. The ftricteft Intimacy can never warrant Freedoms of this Sort; and it is, indeed, prepofterous to think it fhould; unless we can fuppofe Injuries are less Evils when they are done us by Friends, than when they come from other hands. Excefs of Wit may oftentimes beguile: Fefts are not always pardon'd-by a Smile. And feem at Eafe Miftaken, we —tho' pain'd with inward Smart, -think all fuch Wounds, of course, -Alas! it makes them worse. Like Scratches they, with double Anguish, seize, Let us now proceed to speak of Raillery in general, Invective is a Weapon worn as commonly as a Sword; and, like that, is often in the Hands of those who know know not how to use it. but feldom, and never Men of true Courage fight draw but in their own Defence. Bullies are continually squabbling; and, from. the Ferocity of their Behaviour, become the Terror of fome Companies, and the Jeft of more. This is júft the cafe with fuch as have a Livelinefs of Thought, directed by a Propenfity to Ill-nature: Indulging themfelves at the Expence of others, they, by Degrees, incur the Dislike of all. Meek Tempers abhor; Men. of cool Difpofitions defpife; and those addicted to Choler chaftife them. Thus a Licentiousness of Tongue, like a Spirit of Rapine, fets one Man against all; and the Defence of Reputation, as well as Property, puts the human Species on regarding a malevolent Babler with a worfe Eye than a common Thief; because Fame is a Kind of Goods, which, when once taken away, can hardly be restored. Such is the Effigies of this human Serpent. And who, when he has confidered it, would be thought to have fat for the Piece? It is a thousand to one my Book feels the Refentment of Draco, from his feeing his own Likeness in this Glafs. A good Family, but no Fortune, threw Draco into the Army when he was very young. Dancing, Fencing, and a fmattering of French, are all the Education either his Friends beftowed, or his Capacity would allow him to receive. He has been now two Years in Town, and from fwearing, drinking, and debauching Country Wenches, (the general Rout of |